As Africa navigates its path toward a more sustainable future, the upcoming Africa Sustainability Forum, titled Harnessing Sustainable Finance Potentials in Africa: Opportunities, Challenges, and Actions, emerges as a pivotal event. Scheduled for March 27-28, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa, this forum will be one of the key G20 side events, drawing global and regional leaders to discuss how finance can drive Africa’s green transition.
Africa stands at a critical juncture where sustainable finance must be leveraged to drive economic growth while ensuring environmental and social resilience. The continent faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities in achieving its green finance ambitions. This forum seeks to foster dialogue, create synergies, and propose tangible solutions that can scale up sustainable finance initiatives across Africa.
The forum promises to be a dynamic platform featuring high-level keynote speeches and insightful panel discussions on crucial topics such as policy frameworks, sustainability disclosure, energy transition, blended finance, carbon markets, and climate adaptation. The event’s agenda is carefully designed to explore opportunities and challenges within Africa’s sustainable finance landscape and propose actionable strategies to foster long-term growth.
In recent years, Africa has made significant strides in integrating sustainable finance into its development agenda. Countries are adopting green taxonomies, sustainability disclosure requirements, and carbon pricing mechanisms to attract investors looking for ESG-compliant opportunities. However, challenges such as inadequate financing structures, policy misalignment, and a lack of data transparency continue to hinder progress. The forum will address these issues head-on, providing a much-needed platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
Highlights of the forum
Site visit: A firsthand look at a pioneering local sustainable project, offering a glimpse into best practices that drive Africa’s green transition.
Networking opportunities: Engage with a diverse group of 250 policymakers, financial leaders, investors, and industry experts, fostering collaborations that lead to impactful change.
Knowledge sharing: Gain practical insights to strengthen the sustainable finance ecosystem and advance Africa’s development agenda.
Actionable solutions: Discussions will lead to concrete recommendations for governments, businesses, and financial institutions to mobilize sustainable capital.
Event details
Dates: March 27-28, 2025
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Venue: Ballroom, Gallagher Convention Centre, 19 Richards Dr, Midrand, Johannesburg
Format: In-Person & Online (Live Streaming) – Registration required for both
Organizers: Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investments (CASI), South African Reserve Bank (SARB), National Treasury, and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Knowledge Partner: WWF
Supporting Organisation: Risk Insights
Key topics driving the discussion
Policy frameworks: How taxonomies and regulatory policies can shape investments and harmonize sustainability policies across Africa. Governments across the continent are increasingly integrating green taxonomies and sustainable finance guidelines into their economic policies, aiming to standardize practices and attract responsible investments.
Sustainability disclosure: Practical guidance on aligning with international reporting standards and overcoming corporate reporting challenges. Companies are expected to demonstrate transparency in their ESG commitments, but many lack the capacity or guidance to do so effectively. The forum will explore ways to bridge these gaps.
Energy transition: Strategies to scale up renewable energy investments and accelerate Africa’s shift towards sustainable energy solutions. With Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, transitioning to cleaner energy sources will be crucial in reducing carbon emissions and ensuring energy security.
Blended finance for green industrialization: Exploring innovative financial instruments like transition bonds and sustainability-linked financing. Many sustainable projects struggle to secure funding due to perceived risks, making blended finance a key tool in bridging the gap between public and private sector investments.
Carbon markets: Unlocking the potential of carbon trading as a mechanism to cut emissions and stimulate economic growth. The forum will delve into the opportunities and challenges of developing robust carbon markets in Africa, considering both compliance and voluntary market structures.
Climate adaptation & resilience: Funding solutions to mitigate climate risks and enhance resilience across Africa’s economies and communities. Climate change disproportionately affects Africa, necessitating urgent investments in adaptation measures to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems.
The urgency to scale up sustainable finance initiatives in Africa cannot be overstated. Africa is projected to require $2.8 trillion in financing by 2030 to meet its climate goals under the Paris Agreement. Yet, financial flows into sustainability-focused projects remain far below the required levels. The forum will address this financing gap, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss how to attract investment, reduce risks, and create financial structures that benefit both investors and communities.
The participation of government agencies, development finance institutions, investors, and sustainability professionals will ensure a holistic discussion on how to advance Africa’s green finance agenda. The forum will highlight success stories from across the continent, showcasing case studies where sustainable finance has led to economic and environmental gains.
As Africa works towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, sustainable finance will play a crucial role in unlocking development potential while ensuring resilience to climate change. Whether you are an investor looking for ESG-aligned opportunities, a policymaker shaping sustainability regulations, or a business seeking guidance on sustainability disclosure, this forum offers an unmissable opportunity to engage with thought leaders and innovators in the field.
